Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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MOUNTED IMPLEMENT WEIGHT TRANSFER
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
[00011 The present invention relates to farm implements, and, more
particularly, to weight
transfer within said farm implements.
2. Description of the Related Art
100021 One of the more commonly used implements in the farm equipment field is
a planter
implement. Farmers utilize a wide variety of seed planting implements
including seed drills and
planters. In a known type of planting implement, seed planting or row units
are attached to a
toolbar extending transverse to the direction of planting. The toolbar is
coupled to a tractor or
other work vehicle suitable for front pulling the planting implement along a
field that is to be
seeded with a crop. Each seed planting unit includes a ground penetrating
assembly, often
including one or more disks, for opening a seed trench or furrow in the ground
as the planting
implement is pulled across a field. Components of the ground penetrating
assembly shape the
bottom and sides of the seed trench and a seed metering device provides
individual seeds at a
controlled rate for deposit in a seed trench. Furrow closing components of
each row unit close
the seed trench in a controlled manner.
100031 As the need for more efficient farming operations becomes more evident,
the speed of
planting increases to achieve greater output for a given period of time. While
this enhances
productivity in the farming operation, it presents a problem in that with
variable soil content (for
example ranging from clay soil to sandy soil), the reaction force from the
ground penetrating
components to the toolbar varies greatly. As a result, during certain
conditions the ground
penetrating components of the seeding assembly can cause the toolbar to be
elevated, thus
resulting in the seeds being planted at less than an optimal depth.
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[0004] In the past, it has been a practice to transfer loads from one part of
the frame to another
in an attempt to balance the forces on the toolbar, usually transferring
weight from the center
section to the wings. While this has had limited success, it is not capable of
adding or taking
away of weight from the entire toolbar, it only shifts weight from one section
to another.
[0005] Accordingly, what is needed in the art is an apparatus and method for
providing
superior load transfer to the toolbar of a farm implement.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention attempts to achieve a uniform force on the
toolbar by
dynamically transferring component weights to and from the toolbar.
[0007] The present invention also achieves these ends in an efficient and
simplified manner.
[0008] In one form, the present invention is a farm implement having a toolbar
mounted for
traversing the ground in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of
the toolbar. Ground
engaging tools are supported by the toolbar and provide a force to the
toolbar. At least one
ground engaging support is connected by a linkage to the toolbar for up and
down movement
relative to the ground. A component having a weight is supported adjacent the
ground engaging
support. An actuator interconnects the toolbar and at least one of the linkage
and ground
engaging support for selectively elevating the ground engaging support
relative to the ground.
A control system determines a parameter associated with the toolbar and raises
and lowers the
ground engaging support to transfer one of force and weight from the component
to and from the
toolbar.
[0009] In another form, the invention is a seed planting apparatus including a
toolbar mounted
on a tractor for traversing the ground in a direction perpendicular to the
longitudinal axis of the
toolbar. A plurality of seeding units are spaced laterally across the toolbar
for ground
penetration and planting of seeds. A ground engaging support is provided and a
linkage connects
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the ground engaging support to the toolbar for up and down movement relative
to the ground.
An actuator interconnects the toolbar to at least one of the linkage and
ground engaging support
for selectively elevating the ground engaging support. A component having
weight is supported
adjacent the ground engaging support and a control system determines a
parameter associated
with the toolbar and raises and lowers the ground engaging support to transfer
weight from the
component having weight to and from the toolbar.
[0010] In still another form, the invention is a method for balancing weights
in a farm
implement having a toolbar carrying ground engaging tools along a field and
having a weight
component. The method involves the steps of supporting the weight component
adjacent a
ground engaging support through articulated joints to the toolbar and raising
and lowering the
ground support and component relative to the ground to transfer weight to and
from the toolbar
during field operation.
[0011] The present invention offers the advantage of a dynamic weight transfer
to and from a
toolbar of a farm implement to maintain proper pressure and/or elevation
relative to the ground.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this
invention, and the
manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be
better understood
by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention
taken in conjunction
with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0013] Fig. 1 shows a prior art farm implement having a plurality of seeding
components;
[0014] Fig. 2 is the farm implement of Fig. 1 with components embodying the
present
invention; and,
[0015] Fig. 3 is a side view of a detail of the farm implement of Fig. 2.
[0016] Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts
throughout the several
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views. The exemplification set out herein illustrates one embodiment of the
invention, in one
form, and such exemplification is not to be construed as limiting the scope of
the invention in
any manner.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
100171 Referring now to Fig. 1, there is shown an agricultural implement for
planting,
including a tractor 10 that pulls a planter unit 12 through the fields. A
toolbar 14 is supported
laterally on the planter unit so that the direction of travel through the
field is perpendicular to the
longitudinal axis of the toolbar 14. Toolbar 14 is supported above the ground
by ground support
wheels (not shown) forward or rearward of its position. The toolbar 14
provides support for a
plurality of laterally and uniformly spaced seeding assemblies 16. The seeding
assemblies 16
have ground penetrating elements, a trench forming section, seed application
section and closing
section to provide seeds at predetermined locations at a given depth. Details
of the seeding
assemblies 16 are not shown to enable a better focus on the present invention.
[0018] The individual seeding assemblies 16 have mini hoppers 18 that are in
turn fed by bulk
seed hoppers 20 mounted over the toolbar 14 and forward of the mini hoppers
18. Frame
members 28 extend rearward from the toolbar 14 and have a castering support 26
for ground
support wheels 24. Thus, the castered ground support wheels 24 provide aft
support for the
toolbar 14 to maintain it at a given level. When the planter unit 12 is pulled
through a field and
over the ground, the trench opening and forming elements cause an opposite
reaction on the
toolbar 14. As the speed of planting operation is increased, the forces that
act on the toolbar 14
vary dynamically. Depending upon the nature and consistency of the soil, a
reaction force on the
toolbar 14 can cause it to be elevated, thus causing the seeding assemblies 16
to be planting
seeds not at the level intended by the mechanism.
[0019] In accordance with the present invention, the system shown in Figs. 2
and 3 provides
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consistent force control on toolbar 14. Referring first to Fig. 2, a component
38 having weight is
supported aft of the toolbar 14 and adjacent the ground support wheel 24, as
shown in Fig. 3.
The weight component 38 may be but not limited to a bulk fill seed hopper, a
bulk fill fertilizer
hopper, concrete weights, or gravel. Specifically referring to Fig. 3, the
frame arm 28 is
supported by toolbar 14 and extends aft to a forward knuckle 30. The frame 28
is connected to
toolbar 14 by clamp assemblies 29 enabling ready removal. A rearward knuckle
32 provides a
structural support for the castering frame 26 that includes an axle 36 for
ground support wheel
24. Parallel links 34 interconnect forward knuckle 30 and rearward knuckle
32 so as to provide
uniform up and down movement. The weight component 38 is structurally
connected to knuckle
30 and frame 28 adjacent ground support wheel 24 so that its weight is carried
through these
elements. As herein shown, the component 38 acts through frame 28 and knuckle
30. It should
be apparent to those skilled in the art, however, that the component 38 could
be mounted on
rearward knuckle 32 and still provide benefits according to the present
invention as will be
described below. In addition, the parallel links 34 may be in any one of a
number of linkage
types.
[0020] An actuator including an actuator cylinder 40 and an actuator rod 42 is
connected to
forward knuckle 30 by a connection (not shown) and to parallel link 34 by an
actuator rod
connector 44. Thus, extension and retraction of actuator rod 42 causes the
ground wheel 24 to be
elevated or lowered relative to the ground G. Actuator cylinder 40 receives
hydraulic fluid
inputs through line 46 for the piston end and line 48 for the rod end. Lines
46 and 48 receive
appropriate pressure inputs from a hydraulic controller 50 receiving
pressurized hydraulic fluid
from pump 52 supplied by a reservoir 54 through a line 55. The hydraulic
components may be
mounted on tractor 10. Hydraulic controller 50 receives inputs to actuate
cylinder 40 in response
to a number of parameters, one of which is force on the toolbar 14 through a
force sensor 56
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supplying a signal to hydraulic controller 50 through line 58. Hydraulic
controller 50 receives
inputs from force sensor 56 to raise or lower ground wheel 24 and thus
transfer to or from the
toolbar 14 the weight of component 38. By using the force sensor 56, the
forces are balanced so
that as the planting unit 12 traverses the ground, variations in soil
consistency are accommodated
and the actuator raises wheels 24 to increase the down force on toolbar 14.
[0021] An alternative signal input is found by a sensor 60 that senses the
height H above the
ground G and feeds the signal to the hydraulic controller 50 through a line
62.
[0022] The control system for the hydraulic actuator can be closed loop as
shown in Fig. 3 but
also may be open loop and still provide benefits of the present invention. The
actuator is shown
as hydraulic but may be in other forms such as pneumatic or electrical and
still provide the
appropriate level of force control. While the component 38 is shown as the
weight whose mass
is transferred to the toolbar 14, it should be noted that the weight may be
provided by other
components such as concrete weights or other items of predetermined mass so
that appropriate
downforce may be applied to the toolbar 14.
[0023] In operation, as the planting unit 12 traverses the ground, the
reaction forces on the
toolbar 14 may be such that they act in a direction to elevate it, thus
altering the desired seed
level achieved by the planting units. By elevating the ground support wheel
24, the weight of the
component 38 or other mass is then applied as a force to the toolbar 14 to
counteract the reaction
force of the soil consistency.
[0024] While this invention has been described with respect to at least one
embodiment, the
present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this
disclosure. This
application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or
adaptations of the invention
using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover
such departures from
the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art
to which this
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invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.
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